Self-cooled and-or self lubricated electric motor bearing systems

Abstract

The preferred embodiments of the present invention provide two advantageous features, which are especially beneficial in combination, but which can be advantageously and beneficially employed independently of one another: (1) firstly, a self-cooling motor bearing system; and (2) secondly, a self-lubricating motor bearing system. In the preferred embodiments, one or both of these two advantageous features are integrated inside an electric motor (e.g., within the electric motor's enclosure housing) in such a manner as to greatly enhance bearing operating conditions (e.g., maintaining adequate bearing lubrication and/or bearing operating temperature) without the use of external lubrication units and/or external cooling units.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system including a vertical electric motor having a self-lubricating motor bearing component, comprising:
 (a) a vertical motor shaft; 
 (b) a rotor and a stator surrounding said vertical motor shaft and cooperatively causing said vertical motor shaft to rotate; 
 (c) a bearing bracket supported around said vertical motor shaft at a position above said rotor and stator, said bearing bracket including:
 (i) a through-hole through which said vertical motor shaft is rotatably received via a bearing; 
 (ii) a support surface supporting said bearing; 
 (iii) an oil reservoir extending lower than said bearing containing lubricating oil for said bearing; 
 
 (d) a self-lubricating motor bearing component including:
 (i) at least one pump arranged to pump oil from said oil reservoir through at least one oil passageway to at least one discharge position located over said bearing, said at least one oil passageway including a by-pass relief valve and a by-pass section leading from said by-pass relief valve to said oil reservoir, wherein excess oil flow is dissipated via the by-pass relief valve and by-pass section to the oil reservoir; 
 (ii) said pump being powered by rotation of said vertical motor shaft; 
 
 (e) a housing enclosure surrounding said vertical motor shaft, said bearing bracket and said self-lubricating motor bearing component, said housing enclosure including at least one opening allowing airflow to and from said housing enclosure; 
 wherein said at least one oil passageway further includes a passageway through which oil that is not by-passed via the by-pass relief valve flows to a radiator and then to a discharge nozzle located over said bearing; and 
 wherein said pump is a ring gear pump having an inner ring gear fixed to said vertical motor shaft. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , further including a self-cooling component, wherein said self-cooling component includes said radiator arranged to impart cooling heat transfer to the oil circulated via said pump. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 2 , wherein said self-cooling component includes: (i) said at least one oil passageway being configured to direct said oil to said radiator prior to discharge via said discharge nozzle; and (ii) at least one fan arranged to direct cooling airflow over said at radiator, said at least one fan being rotated via said vertical motor shaft. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system includes at least one underground pump configured to pump water from deep within the Earth. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 4 , wherein said underground pump is configured to pump hot water for heat energy within a geothermal power plant. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said electric motor is configured to withstand thrust loads of over 10,000 lbs. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said electric motor is configured to withstand thrust loads of over 25,000 lbs. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said housing enclosure includes a cover that encloses a fan, which is fixed to a distal end of said vertical motor shaft, said bearing bracket, said bearing and said oil reservoir at a position above said rotor and stator, said cover having an air gap under an outer edge to facilitate air flow out of the cover from said fan fixed to the distal end of said vertical motor shaft.